Legends Rock

This month on Legends Rock , host Chuck Johnston welcomes three guests with deep roots in Omaha’s Catholic school tradition: Marty McAslin, Jeff Matza, and Jeff Harwood. Together, they take a nostalgic and insightful look at the rich history of Omaha’s parochial schools and the lasting impact those schools have had on athletics, families, and the community. The conversation explores legendary scho...

This month on Legends Rock we sit down with a true Sarpy County legend, Fred Uhe. From his days as a student at Papillion-La Vista High School and UNO to a career filled with community leadership, sports connections, Fred has been part of some of Nebraska’s biggest happenings for decades. Listen in as Fred shares stories from his long-time involvement with t...

Today’s episode of  Legends Rock  features Todd and Wendy Henrichs, one of Nebraska high school sports’ true “first couples.” With more than 40 years of impact across media, coaching, and athletic administration, their influence on prep athletics across the state is both deep and lasting. The conversation begins with Todd’s recent appointment as Assistant Director of the Nebraska Hi...

Two of Nebraska’s greatest basketball players join the mic on this episode of  Legends Rock . Dave Hoppen and Bill Jackman sit down with host Chuck Johnston to share stories from their remarkable basketball journeys. Hoppen, whose number hangs in the rafters at Pinnacle Bank Arena, reflects on his rise from Benson High School to University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the...

Today we’re joined by Jeff Smith and Jake Muhlheisen, two cornerstones of one of the most remarkable athletic eras in Nebraska high school history.  From youth sports and family roots to elite high school competition, Jeff and Jake share their journeys, including: • Playing for legendary Lincoln Southeast coaches like Alex Gordon Sr., Bob McNaught, and Frank Solich • Growi...

For the first time on Legends Rock, we welcome three guests at once, so you know it’s a special trio. Joining the show are Dick Muma, Bob Martin, and Jim Eberly—the leaders of the legendary 1972  David City Scouts  basketball team, a group that captured the school’s first state basketball championship and capped off an unforgettable run. We dig into what made David Ci...

If you’ve followed Nebraska athletics at any point in the last 35+ years, you know today’s guest: Steve Sipple. Sip. Sipple. Steven F. Sipple. Whatever name you choose “Legend” might be the most accurate. In this episode, we dive into Sip’s Columbus roots, growing up Discoverer tough, playing basketball for Coach Al Schnabel, and witnessing a powerhouse era in  CHS athleti...

Welcome to  Legends Rock , brought to you by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame ! In this episode, Executive Director Chuck Johnston sits down with Scott Hazelrigg, a fifth-generation Nebraskan whose career has been defined by leadership, community, and youth empowerment. As President and Founder of the  NorthStar Foundation , Scott has dedicated his l...

Today our guest is Jim Flanery, head women’s basketball coach at Creighton University — and a true legend both on and off the court. From his roots in Guthrie Center, Iowa, to walking on at Creighton under Tony Barone, Flan’s journey has been shaped by grit, humor, and a lifelong love of the game. In this episode, we talk about his playing days alongside future coaches Todd Eisner and Porter Moser...

They called him  “Dean the Dream”  for a reason. Dean Thompson’s smooth, effortless style made him one of the most gifted scorers Omaha has ever seen. At  Omaha Westside , he led the Warriors to the Class A boys basketball championship his senior year, averaging 23 points per game and earning all-state honors. His legacy continued at the  University of Nebraska a...

Bruce Chubick, Jr. (aka  Chubs ) left an unforgettable mark on  Nebraska hoops . From Atkinson West Holt to his four years at Nebraska, competing in four NCAA tournaments, before an eight-year professional career in Europe where he earned recognition as one of Belgium’s top players. In this conversation, Bruce reflects on “Growing Up Chubick,” the powerhouse West...

This month’s guest on  Legends Rock  is a true Nebraska sports historian — and a Hastings legend — Greg Mays. A 1986 Hastings High graduate and 1990 Hastings College alum, Greg was part of the Broncos’ basketball team that reached the Elite Eight of the NAIA national tournament. In this episode, we explore Greg’s lifelong passion for high school sports history, the inspiration behind his...

This month’s guest on  Legends Rock  is Nebraska sports journalism royalty — the legendary Lee Barfknecht. A longtime writer for the  Omaha World-Herald  and past president of the  Football Writers Association of America , Lee has covered it all, from high school gyms to the biggest stages in college athletics.   Host Chuck Johnston and Lee go back decades,...

This month on  Legends Rock , we’re joined by the incredible Kirsten Bernthal Booth, the longtime head coach who transformed Creighton Volleyball into a national powerhouse. But before the record wins, conference titles, and NCAA Tournament runs, Kirsten was a multi-sport athlete at Lincoln East, competing in gymnastics, swimming, and eventually becoming a state tennis champion.   We tak...

In this episode of  Legends Rock , presented by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame , host Chuck Johnston welcomes Hall of Fame inductee Amy Stephens—a name still etched among Nebraska’s all-time leading high school scorers.   Amy takes us back to her roots in Alliance, Nebraska, sharing memories of squaring off against fellow legends like Maurtice Ivy and Jessic...

From all-state high school stardom to a nine-year NBA career, Erick Strickland is one of Nebraska’s greatest athletes. In this episode of  Legends Rock ,  brought to you by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame , our host, Chuck Johnston sits down with Erick to explore his remarkable journey.   Erick shares stories of his early years on mil...

In this episode of  Legends Rock ,  brought to you by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame , our host, Chuck Johnston welcomes a true athletic legend in Nebraska. As a high school, college, and professional athlete, and collegiate coach, Tom Kropp set a standard that few in Nebraska’s history have matched.  From dominating in football...

In this episode of  Legends Rock ,  brought to you by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame , our host, Chuck Johnston welcomes two 1980’s Omaha sports legends, Victor Breakfield and Steve Reddick. Listen in as they share their high school sports experiences, reflect on memorable coaches and athletes such as Scottie Harris, Ron Ke...

In this episode of  Legends Rock ,  brought to you by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame , our host, Chuck Johnston talks to Monte Kratzenstein, a former Nebraska Cornhusker Tight End and high school football coach at Bellevue East and Millard West. Monte shares his journey growing up in Gothenburg, walking on at NU, and his impactful wo...

In this episode of  Legends Rock,  brought to you by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame , our host, Chuck Johnston sits down with a legend in the Omaha sports world, Martie Cordaro, President of the Omaha Storm Chasers and Union Omaha. Martie takes us back to his roots in Ruston, Louisiana, sharing stories about growing up as a Rust...

In this episode of  Legends Rock,  brought to you by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame , our host, Chuck Johnston, talks to Chad Stoner—a multi-talented musician and former athlete, about his roots, sharing where he grew up, details about his family, and the charming story of how he met his wife, Elaine.   While many know Chad for his music,...

In this episode of  Legends Rock,  brought to you by the  Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame , we sit down with legendary  KETV  anchor, Rob McCartney. From his early days growing up in a military family to becoming a beloved figure in broadcasting, Rob shares stories that shaped his career and life.   We reminisce about his time as a high school athlete an...

Welcome to  Legends Rock,  brought to you by the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame! On this episode host Chuck Johnston, is joined by Bruce Rasmussen, a legendary figure in Creighton athletics.   Bruce will share stories about his early life in Iowa, his coaching career—including working with Bruce Jenner—and unforgettable moments from the 1984 Olympi...

Welcome to the 1st episode of Legends Rock with your host Chuck Johnston, Executive Director of the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. In this episode, Chuck is joined by a true Nebraska legend, Kent Pavelka, the iconic voice of Husker basketball and a pillar in the state’s broadcast industry. Listen in as Kent and Chuck share funny anecdotes from Kent’s broadcasting career, dive into tales...